Tuesday, August 27, 2013

FINDING YOUR SURNAMES IN OTHER FAMILY HISTORIES

hen looking for your ancestors, don’t forget to check the
family histories of peripheral/collateral people who knew or married them.
There are a number of places online you can search for family histories, and in
many cases online access is free. My
favorite sites to find these books are:

Elizabeth SCRIPTURE (1803-1891) was my 3rd great
grand aunt. She married James Root. I found Elizabeth’s marriage to James Root mentioned
in The Route of the Roots (Roote - Root) and Collateral Families by
Ferne Kitson Patterson. (1) This
book states that Elizabeth SCRIPTURE was from Westmoreland, New York, which
matches my records. (2)

Also in this book are informative sections on the Erie Canal (3),
the Oneida Turnpike (4) and a detailed map of the Town of Vernon (5). This was the
land of many of my ancestors.

SPAULDING LINE

My records show that Adolphus SPAULDING, my 3rd
great grand uncle, married Polly Babbitt. In The Babbitt Family History1643-1900
by William Bradford Browne, I found a reference to Mary Babbitt who married
Adolphus Spaulding. (6) Polly is a nickname for Mary. Mary’s father was
listed as Nathaniel Babbitt, who kept a tavern in East Sauquoit, Oneida County,
New York. (7) The book states
that Nathaniel Babbitt was also at one time a blacksmith in Paris Hill.
(8). Paris Hill is in Oneida County, New York. My Spaulding ancestors
lived in or near Oneida County, New York.
I love this kind of information because it gives further credence to a
person’s existence in a particular place at a particular time.

Sampson SPAULDING, my 4th great grand uncle,
married Prudence Greenleaf. In the Genealogy
of the Greenleaf Family by James Edward Greenleaf, I found a reference to
the marriage of Sampson Spaulding of Columbus and Prudence Greenleaf on March
30, 1814. (9) Prudence is listed as having a prior marriage and children
with Alvin Lamb.(10) This is all useful information to document my
Spaulding line.

Genealogical clues are hiding in places you might not think
to look. Be a detective, and you might
be surprised what you find.